June 17, 2025
The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to announce that Zack Fine will join the department in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor of Acting.
Fine is an actor, director, playwright and teacher originally from Chicago. He has taught in actor training programs throughout the country, most recently at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is a founding faculty member of the Fiasco Theater Company’s Conservatory Program and has taught workshops around the world.
"I recently taught a few workshops at The University of Texas at Austin and was immediately struck by the community," shares Fine. "The students and faculty inspired me. It was clear to me that the department has a rich and exciting combination of talent, passion, commitment and curiosity flowing through the building each day. This instantly made me want to jump into the sandbox and join this community."
As an actor, Fine has been nominated for several Helen Hayes Awards, winning in 2015 for his work in Fiasco Theater’s Two Gentlemen of Verona. His Broadway credits include China Doll with Al Pacino. His Off-Broadway credits include works with Red Bull Theater, The Acting Company, Mint Theater Company, Theatre for a New Audience, Fiasco Theater and New York Classical Theatre. On TV, he’s appeared in Person of Interest, Blackbox (recurring), New Amsterdam and FBI.
As a writer and director, Fine’s work has been developed around the country and in Mexico. He was previously a 2024 UCROSS Fellow and a 2025 Eugene O’Neill National Music Theater Conference Finalist. Additionally, he directed the world premiere of the first-ever Spanish translation of Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good (El Bien Del Pais), which ran for two years in Mexico City.
“Zack Fine is having an impressive career as an actor and is broadening his expertise with accomplishments in directing and playwriting,” shares department chair Dr. Peter Carpenter. “His work in the classroom impressed faculty and students with his thoughtfulness, practicality and pedagogical vision. I am beyond excited to welcome Zack to Winship in the fall and know that he will be an incredible addition to the Acting Area and the entire department.”
Fine received training in clown and play in Paris at the renowned École du Philippe Gaulier and in New York City with Christopher Bayes, as well as with master teachers around the world. In 2020, Zack founded the company Recess (www.letsgotorecess.com) with his partner Arielle Yoder to help build community in the workplace through games and play. He holds a B.A. from Oberlin College in American History (Summa Cum Laude) and a M.F.A. from the University of Tennessee.